Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-08
RUSSIA.
An Americans Vows Of Her Gov
eminent and People.

eminent and People.
To understand Russia, her imperial
ism and her institutions, and especially
to appreciate the tyranny here, and to
know why such violent efforts are
made to destroy the Gar and his des-
pOtic government, the people must
first be understood. The people, more
than the country, make republic, a
kingdom, or an empire, what it is.
Americans, more than any other
race. oppose violence as a means of re-
form. The franchise of the people
works reformation, together with the
customs which bring about changes in
office. But in a country where there
is no such thing as the ballot and
corruption, unfitness and natural cir
'cumstances do not change official
make-ups. the people are driven to
other means than political to work re-
forms. Here the throne is the inherit
ance of single family, and officers
OF the empire are never punished for
crimes against the people. A Russian
may with impunity and in cold blood
murder a whole family. if it has no
connection with the throne, euter a
plea of guilty, and be sure, under no
condition, that his action will cost him
his life. He will so to prison, proba-
bly, exile in Siberia, for a few years.
But if he is found guilty of utterances
against a member of the royal family.
or in opposition to the imperial rule, he
is taken from his home. shop. store, or
office, and never more is heard of. His
life pays the penalty.
had read much in romancing liter
allure about the "mysteriOus disap-
pearaces of people in Russia who
wrote or spoke against the highland
ed imperiousness of the Car, but came
to st. Petersburg ready to discredit it
all. l believed it might have been true
one day, but that it could not be now.
In the face of danger one is less appre-
ciative of it; yet in the capital of Rus
STA am ready to confirm the most that
have heard of the dungeons, the gull
1otine and Siberia.
The condition of affairs in this coun-
try can be surmised when it is known
that there are no free schools, and
none of a private nature free from the
personal supervision of the Cars GEN.
sor. Not line of printed matter
comes into the territory that is not
'scrutinlzed by the censor of the press,
not a telegram sent in or out without
the same inspection, and nothing will
be suffered in any form, by tongue or
ink. which takes exception to any feat
ure of the Government or suggests any
other form of government. To violate
this law is to court death. And one
does not have to persist in violating
this law to meet with swift punish
ment. Once is sufficient. For a mild
form of indiscretiOn exile in Siberia or
a life sentence in the dungeons is pre-
;scribed. If the offense is positive the
offender goes to the island. into the
garrison, and is soon beyond the call
of mortal subjects. His remains are
thrown into the pit
Forty-two miles up the river Neva
from St. Petersburgh is fortress
where enough blood has been shed. in
-expiation of alleged crimes against the
empire to float British man of war.
1t is long, quaint old structure. made
of stone, and the Neva, though a mar
row river. broadens just enough at
that point to give it complete protec-
ton against land approach. 1t should
occupy place in the background of
Dante's Inferno. On the parapets or
wall overlooking the water are always
a number Of sentinels who are in
'structed to shoot down without cere-
mony any person who attempts to
land. Only officers with fresh vic
tins are permitted to approach the
fortress. and many are the stories
about innocent strangers. fishing or
rowing. who have been murdered in
their efforts to visit the place. Here
those who are condemned to death or
life sentence are brought. and it is
believed that the Internal fortunes of
the lnquisition are now in perpetual
practice within these walls. At diff
ferent periods members of the royal
tamily-like the son of Peter the Great
have been cast into this dungeon to
die. under suspicion of disloyalty to
the Car. In natural location it re-
minds one Of Blackwell's Island, near
New York. but the latter prison is a
palace in comparison.
The censor of the press, when he
wishes simply to destroy certain ar
ticle in a newspaper or magazine, gen
orally runs roller of black ink over it